Michael P. FarrisChairman of the Board
Chancellor of Patrick Henry College

Michael Farris is the Chancellor of Patrick Henry College and Chairman of the Home School Legal Defense Association. He was the founding president of each organization.

Farris graduated from Western Washington State College, magna cum laude, with Bachelors in Political Science, followed by a Juris Doctorate from Gonzaga University (with honors). At Gonzaga, Farris was the Articles Editor of the Law Review, and was the winner of the Linden Cup Moot Court Competition. Recently, Farris earned an LL.M. in Public International Law from the University of London.

Farris has specialized in constitutional appellate litigation. In that capacity Farris has argued as lead counsel before the Supreme Court of the United States, eight federal circuit courts of appeals, and in the state Supreme Courts and appellate courts of thirteen states. Additionally, Farris is the author of numerous amicus briefs before the United States Supreme Court.

Farris has been a fixture on Capitol Hill for over 30 years, having testified before Congress on numerous occasions in both the House and Senate. Farris was the Co-Chairman of the Coalition for the Free Exercise of Religion that successfully lobbied Congress for the passage of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. He has been a leading advocate for the sovereignty of the United States with his successful opposition to various United Nations treaties which seek to control the domestic policy of the United States.

Farris is nationally known as a pioneering leader of the modern homeschooling movement. His leadership of Home School Legal Defense Association has taken him to nearly every state and a growing number of other nations.

As the founding president of Patrick Henry College, Farris has helped to launch a highly regarded Christian college that is founded on a strong commitment to biblical truth and the classical liberal arts—the twin pillars of the educational practices of the founding generation of the United States. At PHC, Farris teaches constitutional law, public international law, and has coached the PHC Moot Court team to eight national championships—including each of the most recent six tournaments.

Farris is the author of over 15 books, a number of law review and other scholarly articles, and countless articles in the popular press. He has appeared on every national television network, dozens of talk shows, and played himself in a motion picture. He is the author and narrator of a popular video series entitled Constitutional Literacy. He is the co-host of a daily radio show, Homeschool Heartbeat played on nearly a thousand stations.

Farris’s work has been recognized by a number of awards including the Salvatori Prize for American Citizenship from the Heritage Foundation, a lifetime achievement award from the Virginia Family Foundation, an original inductee in the Kennewick High School Hall of Fame, and, for his work in home education, Education Week Magazine named him one of the top 100 “Faces in Education” for the 20th century.

Hear how the Supreme Court and our nation’s lower courts are failing to hold parental rights to the same legal standard as fundamental rights like speech and press, and how European court decisions on children’s rights are influencing our U.S. judicial system. Michael Farris describes threats to parental rights that involve the political right, political left, and international law, and proposes a solution that will be the battle of the century for homeschoolers and other pro—family forces.

The first and second wave of attacks on homeschooling were essentially based on lies. You won’t succeed academically. We proved them wrong. Your kids won’t be socialized. We proved them wrong. The third wave is fundamentally different. It accuses: you will teach your kids that Christianity is the only true religion. This attack is true. Michael Farris examines the newest anti—homeschooling strategy of the legal elites, explains how it will impact us today and tomorrow, and outlines a plan of action.

The best and most effective opportunity to win large numbers of Americans to Christ is found in our children. Based on the research of George Barna, Michael Farris presents homeschooling as the very best method to accomplish this. Church leaders are challenged to wake up to the spiritual damage occurring in their church’s children via public education. Parents are encouraged to make sure that the spiritual opportunity presented by homeschooling is not squandered.

Have you ever wondered how Samuel could remember the prayer of his mother when she sent him off to be trained by Eli? Hannah is just one example of a mother who dramatically impacted the life of her child by her prayer, her protection, her instruction, and her overcoming spirit. These uplifting stories should encourage all parents—but especially mothers—as we sacrifice to homeschool our children.

If you would like to schedule Michael Farris as a speaker for your upcoming event, contact his assistant, Michele Musto at Michele@hslda.org. Michael asks for at least one general session to be chosen from his political/legal speech category. Additional talks may be chosen from any of the categories. Michael is willing to speak five or more times over the course of two days, but no more than three times in one day.

He requires the host to pay for his travel and hotel expenses, but his speaking fees are negotiable. Contact Michele Musto for information.